The Syro-Phoenician Woman

The Syro-Phoenician Woman
Come gather round, and all sit down, I'll tell you a Jesus story!
It's grandiose; if you listen close, you'll know the road to glory.
It'll make you wonder, perhaps you'll ponder mysterious ways of grace;
You'll see more clear, and love more dear, the kindness of God's face.

He worked all day as he led the way, his disciples trailed along;
He'd sometimes sit, but he never quit, on his lips he carried a song.
At last one morn, he said, "Guys, I'm worn; for awhile let's change the pace."
So off they went, by the Spirit sent, to find a quiet place.
He left that land under God's command for the region of Sidon and Tyre,
He wanted to rest, take a break from his quest, to refuel, rekindle his fire.
But they met an old hag, a dreary old nag, who chased them down the road;
She begged him "Please, won't you hear my pleas, for I carry a weary load.
My daughter is sick, it's a terrible trick, and for me a bitter pill.
Your Jesus’ Name is always the same, please help me if you will,
I need that girl, she's the fairest pearl in the world; she's all I've got.
If she dies on me, oh, can't you see, I'll be in a terrible spot.
You have to heed, in my heart I bleed, I will not be deterred;
Show why your name has won such fame, just come and say the word.
My girl's possessed, she won't get dressed, she can't even say her name...."
But the Lord he walked and would not halt; he ignored the tiresome dame.
He said, "Gentile fools, they smell like mules; I don't have time for them.
To Judah I'm sent, for glory I'm bent, my grace is a priceless gem."
His disciples murmured "This woman's a bummer, of her we should be rid."
And Jesus replied, "We'll have to hide from the nanny and her kid."
They went ahead to a weathered shed, and then they stepped inside.
And Jesus said, "In this homestead is where we can abide,
A secret den for special men, our own exclusive club,
And we'll not suffer no female lover of old Beelzebub.
But she came right in, their heads did spin, she scorned their right and wrong,
With "Jesus-name is ever the same; I'll not quit singing that song."
She bent down low as her face would go, and she clasped him by the knee.
The men were shocked as her arms she locked and he cried, "Please set me free!
I will not go, nor stoop so low to throw my pearls to hogs;
God won't forgive if I should give the food of kids to dogs."
"It's true my Lord, I hear your word," the hag still claimed her cause,
"But the dogs still eat what the kids won't eat when to the floor it falls!"
Then The Man was stumped, to his feet he jumped, when he heard that woman's mot,
And he laughed out loud, and he whooped and howled, and his ruddy face did glow,
"Woman, I'm smote with a rueful note, your faith is plain to see;
You're sure not shy and that is why your girl's now sane and free."
So the woman went back, no faith she lacked, and found the girl just fine,
While Jesus sought and deeply thought to comprehend this sign.

Then he told this joke of the vicious bloke, a mean and venomous judge
Who did not care for God or prayer, who bragged he would not budge.
But a woman came, she caused him shame, harassed him night and day,
He was so distressed as her case she pressed that at last he did give way.
Then Jesus laughed at his unkind gaffe, of himself he told this jest,
For even the Lord, the Incarnate Word, was good, then better then best.

So remember this tale whenever you wail and your face is wearing a frown,
For Jesus' name is always the same, and him you can wear down.
He was born a Jew with a limited view, a child of Galilee,
As a boy he thought what his neighbors taught, he saw what they could see;
He was sometimes slow, 'cause he had to grow, but he learned at a faster pace;
He was sometimes blind but he did not mind when they stood up to his face.
His heart was good, not made of wood, then sorrow opened his eyes;
He suffered blows from dreadful foes, but them he'd not despise.
He drank the dregs, pain buckled his legs, it taught him how to care
For all the earth and each one's worth; our sadness he did share.
He's not mischievous so call on Jesus; he'll give you strength reborn.
He was given power in his final hour for those who are forlorn;
He knows your needs; your woe he heeds when you that name beseech;
So go out now, I’ve shown you how, cure one and all and each.

Adam, Eve, and God

In the cool of the evening, I’ll visit those two.
They’re terribly young, their knowledge so new;
They’ll tell me about the plants they have sewn,
The fruit they have gathered, the wheat they have grown.
We’ll laugh at the wonderful ways of all life,
We’ll marvel to see with the eyes of the wife,
To touch with his hands, to dance with their feet;
We’ll drink of the goodness of earth as we meet.

But where are they now? Not milking a cow,
Not shepherding sheep; it’s too early for sleep.
Where are they hid? Has the goat with her kid
Taken them out? Are they roaming about?
I hope they’re not gone from this Eden so fair.
They’re still my young darlings, this beautiful pair.
Well – I’ll just sit down and wait for awhile;
I’ll neither worry nor fret; that’s never my style.

Has old cantankerous Mother Earth
swallowed them up? A reversal of birth?
Of course not! She loves them more dearly than light;
Than the sun in its warmth, or the stars in their height.
Has one of my foolish creations in flesh,
Eaten them live, or gobbled their fresh
Pretty faces and limbs. It can’t be;
They’re frightened of me,
And they see in this pair
My image so rare.
They’ll love and adore them as long as the rain
Sprinkles the earth and waters the main.
But where are they now?
I wonder somehow.
Has something befallen the work of my hand,
The beauty I molded from water and sand?

Great heavens above! They’re making love!
Of course! How foolish of me to fear something worse!
They’ll come out in a while,
Each of them wearing no more than a smile.
Eve, she’ll be giggling and blushing with pride,
Her man will be grinning from ear to ear wide.
The couple will glow with golden vitality,
Still weak in the knee and hot in the belly.
They’ll gambol around me like two silly foals,
And I’ll laugh with the pleasure of being so old.
There’s nothing to worry or be anxious about,
I’ll just wait here patient until they come out.

But now its getting too dark to stay,
I wanted to see them in clear light of day.
Adam, where are you?
Eve, my darling come out.
Ah here they come now.
But something’s wrong.
The man he is cowering, the woman is weeping,
And what on earth have they wrapped around their loins?
Fig leaves? But, but why?

Oh.
I see.
But who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten from the tree.
I’m so sorry.
Let me get you some clothes.
I’ll tear the skin off some animal and give it to you.
Yes, I suppose it will hurt, but I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.